The 1940 US Census - Willard and Janet Waning

1940 US Census - Lost Creek Valley Precinct, Lane County, Oregon

Willard and Janet Waning are Household #93 near the bottom of the page.  Click on the photo for a 'bigger view".  Note Janet's name transcribed as Jeanette - a clue on how it was pronounced.  Willard has an 8th grade education, Janet is listed as a High School Graduate. The Dexter Ranch is valued at $5,000 - in a couple more years the Wanings would pay off the mortgage.  

Billy Waning's Trip to Maine - 1947

I blogged earlier about Willard Lowe Waning's trip home to Maine in 1947.  Recently, I found a short newspaper report of his visit.

Will and Laurence Coffin - Pittsfield, ME

"Willard Waning of Dexter, Ore., is visiting his niece and husband, Mr. and Mrs. William I. Coffin. Mr. Waning whose home was at Knox, went west when a young man and this is his first visit to Maine in 45 years."

W.I. Coffin Home - Maine

From: "The Portland Press Herald", 29 October 1947, Pittsfield News, Page 20  

Jimmie Waning Taken Suddenly Ill

Alice Bates, James Waning, Arthur Bates - Dexter - about 1928

Eugene Register Guard
February 1, 1931

"Mr. Wanning(sic) who works here for the Booth-Kelly Lumber company, was called to Eugene Saturday when his son, Jimmie, who is well-known in Wendling, was taken to the Eugene hospital for an operation.  Jimmie was taken suddenly ill while at the family home in Dexter, and was rushed to the hospital in Eugene.  Mr. Wanning(sic) went down Saturday evening to be with the boy."

Any ideas about the illness - appendicitis perhaps?

Summer 1942 - The Accident - A Second Letter from Janet McAdam Waning

In late July Jim received a newsy letter from his mother.

Billy and Net McAdam Waning - undated

"Dexter Oregon

July 26, 1942

Dear Jimmie -

It's some time since I have written you a letter & I'd much rather have called & chatted but Billy1 is too busy to go to Eugene & we have enough feed for chickens to(sic) so no call to go except to visit you - but we'd like to do that but best not to take the day out - as grain is ripening fast and he has so much ahead of him, ready.  He is mowing the little piece south of the barn & windrowing it - can't use the binder - &  guess there isn't much he can use it on - So it will be slow if he has to mow it all - Loris mowed the piece next to Clair Williams place & the one this side of where we dug potatoes - He will pick up the windrow with combine - but we will bunch ours (some job) - and thresh it loose.  We got in what hay he had down,  got the barn pretty well filled up & has(sic) mowed the piece next to woods on the hill & he says the thistles are as high as the horses backs or there about - the best they have ever done - cultivation with the engine helped them - Guess it's quite a mess - The hay is fine up there too.  He'll bunch it & put it in when he can.  He has two boys coming tomorrow.  They live up by M Goodmans - I think he said Durkee was their names - I spose(sic) Mgt2 told you New'm3 had quit the woods & this time for sure - His birthday was yesterday 25th - 75 - about time to retire from woods work.

Last Sat. week ago Mr & Mrs Sherwood came & stayed till Wed PM - They were doing fine & he was eating food for him - when I spoiled it - I killed one of my fat red hens & made gravy and dumplings - Her long suit - so guess she ate too hearty & got sick - She didn't get out of bed till they went home about 2pm - Poor Mr Sherwood was mad & worried as could be.  I was sorry for him - He says, 'best place for her is home - She eats too damn much.' 

Lew & Kenny helped put in the hay Kenny led or drove one of Lew's horses just left her here & Kenny road his pony over - Then Wed Rhoda & Ray'm came too for dinner.  

Retta Wallace Francis - 1944 

A letter from Retta Wallace saying Joe4 died the 15th - Mary5 was over there with her - so that's over & done with - Letter from Marjorye6 - but nothing about coming up - I guess it's off - for Robt was gone on a fishing trip for 3 days - & Beth has become engaged to her new boyfriend & wearing a beautiful diamond & he has the other ring to match - but Bob & M tho't they'd better wait a little - as they have only been acquainted 4 mos - Fast worker him - must think he'll have to go into army - So Beth couldn't leave down there now while everything is going so fine, Marj says, 'He has a good job & nice fellow' so thinks it  be O.K. - Bob Wolf should come back - & be ready to get her on the rebound -

Robert, Beth & Marjorye Emmert

Eva is some better but at Emmerts yet - Munseys7 wrote they were at Camp in Yosemite Park - I think Park, but it may be in the Valley somewhere - Their daughter got a vacation if a month with pay is she got out of town & went to a complete change - or not pay - So she took the folks on this trip - She & mother went up on bus & dad was driving up later - Said they & Morrises had a barbecued steak dinner at Roberts the 4th. 

Paul and Berthy Munsey with Bob Emmert

Tues evg the Cresseys came up from camp for an hr or so.  Then Sat evg John & Mr came for cream & spent an hr or so - & today in PM Mr & Mrs Cressey Sr drove in for a call - John...(is) quite smart to visit with - Well I must quit this it's eleven o'clock & I've been writing so fast I doubt you can make it out - but Margt can - I hope baby & Margt keep well & that you are going to need a bath robe before long.  We get pretty anxious to see you but know we can do no good - so will stay home & work - the strawberry patch makes more watering & I need some wooden feet.  With love & best wishes to you all from Mother"    

1 Billy - Willard Lowe Waning - Jim's father

2 Mgt & Margt - Margaret Upton Waning - Jim's wife

3 New'm - Newman Hall - Billy Waning's partner

4 Joe Francis - Retta Wallace Francis' husband - Retta was Janet's maternal cousin 

5 Mary - Mary McAdam Emert - Janet's oldest 1/2 sister 

6 Rob (Bob) Marjorye & Beth Emmert - Janet's nephew, wife, and his daughter.

I don't think Beth married this young man as her first child was not born until 1952. 

7 Munseys - Paul and - friends of Bob Emmert family - visited Dexter with Emmerts in 194--

link here:  

http://waxingandwaningcousinconnections.blogspot.com/2010/08/dexter-ranch-1946.html

Summer 1942 - The Accident - A Letter from Janet Waning

In July James received a note from his mother, Janet McAdam Waning.

In her usual "waste not - want not" fashion she is reusing a note for Proctor and Gamble and her stationery.

Envelope

Note - Front

"Good morning - It's cloudy out here and Billy1 can't mow - too damp & grain won't roll-off the wind rower - Billy gave KEnny $1.00 a day, 3 days - Hay is quite good quality. The boys came & are at work bunching - $4.00 per 8 hrs - Newman2 went down to see if he could get Loris to cut the south field - So Ma has some hayers to cook for but no worse than last wk with the two breakfasts - Our cream supply is slim now - but will have two cows freshen 2nd wk or before in Aug - Pet and Ginger give us plenty for table yet but will tell cream man not to come Thurs - Hens do pretty good - will have about 72 doz - or 21/2 cases today - 33 last Mon - and..." 

Note - Reverse

"...that keeps the amt up - less dozens more per doz - Huelett was up & looked at calves but Billy tho't he wasn't paying enough - 6c for the cow & 8 for the calves - Huelett buys for Blue Bird Co. - Clair Williams family have moved to Salem or where ever he is working - The old school house is a thing of the past - Has been sold & torn down - Lew M said $150 - I don't know who to - Hosticks are all gone - & house rented - not the shop...News up to the minute .  Letter from Soph3 - about same there - no world if Robt4 got out - said she hadn't heard a word. Mac5 is O.K. - Heaps of love to you all - Ma -"

1 Billy - Janet's husband Willard Lowe Waning

2 Newman Hall - Billy's partner

3 Widowed sister-in-law Sophie Ingvalson McAdam 

4 Guessing that she is speaking of her nephew Robert McAdam - letter from his sister indicates that all is not well (in jail?)

5 Janet's brother - Matthew (Mac) McAdam

Valentines - 1956

Cards sent to Billy and Net Waning from their Grand-daughters 

Card - Front

Card - Inside

Card - Front

Card - Inside 

A 1947 Mystery

Let's start off the year with a family mystery...

The year is 1947...

What untoward event caught Billy Waning's attention to the extent that he felt it necessary to write the War Department / Corp of Engineers?

Get-rich-quick Real Estate dealings involving the new dams?

A Journey Back Home 1947...and on to Montana - Part Five

We know that Billy Waning did travel on to Montana after visiting Massachusetts and Maine.  Some of the 1947 Christmas cards commented on his visit there. 

Oscar and Minnie - 1947 - Card - Front

"...We surely enjoyed Billie's visit only wish you could have been along...

Lots of love,

Minnie"

Livingston, Montana

Chet and Nellie Jackson - Card - Front - 1947

"...We surely enjoyed your visit, Billy -

Greetings to Newman,

Lovingly - Nellie"

Paradise, Montana

A Journey Back Home - Maine 1947 - Part Four

Almost one month later, Billy Waning sent another short note to his daughter-in-law.

Letter - Page 1

"Pittsfield, ME

Oct 22/41

Dear folks

I will write a line to let you know that I still think of you.  I am at Maggie's(1) - she and I will go to Bangor tomorrow to see Nellie(2) she is in the hospital with a bad foot - gangreen they call it and the Dr want to take the foot off, but she says no.  So don't know what the outcome will be it is pretty bad anway.

Well it is awfully dry back here lotts(sic) of bad fires but it looks like rain this morning.  Lotts(sic) of wells going dry so everyone wants rain."   

Letter - Page 2

"I will be starting for Montana next week.  Will tell you more about it when I get home.  I hope everything is going along all right.  I am going with Will(3) this P.M. after some cattle.  Have you had much rain het.  Will say good by with lots of love to all.

dad Willard  

My address will be

414 W Front St

Livingstone, Montana

By By" 

1 Maggie - Margaret Fernald Coffin (1892-1975) - the daughter of Earnest Fernald and Hattie Coffin, she was Billy's niece. 

2 Nellie - I think this must be Billy's sister.  She married Fred Gray in 1897, and I'd always thought she died around 1902 as Fred remarried that year.  Now, however, I think Nellie and Fred divorced, and she went back to using her maiden name.  Nellie is listed in an old address book as Mrs Nellie S. Waning.  Another mystery...solved?

3 Will - probably William Coffin (1887-1966), Maggie's husband.

A Journey Back Home - Massachusetts - 1947 - Part Three

Envelope

This short letter to Billy's daughter-in-law, Margaret Waning, gives a few more details of his 1947 trip Massachusetts, Maine, and Montana - who knew? 

Page 1 of Letter

"Reading, Mass

Sept/24

Dear Margaret and family

I will write a line to let you know that I lived through the deal.  We got to N.Y. Tuesday AM.  I enjoyed the trip all but the last of of it.  Got quite rough and did I get sick(1) so I took the train from there to Boston.  Stayed all nite.  Came to Reading today - found only one of the boys that worked in the store(2) with us - Ernie Alward(3) - he came to see me and was he glad to here(sic) how we are..." 

Skippy Richards - 1947



"and I saw Stuart Richards(4) he was two when I came away and I met his wife and 10 year old boy."

Letter - Page 2

They wer(sic) real nice took me to their home would have kept me only she is not well but wanted me to stay untill(sic) they came to the store in the morning so I said yes..."

 Mrs Richards, Mr Forbes (90yrs), Mrs Howes, Mrs Rich - Mass 

I think this is Mr Forbes and his married daughters. 

"and then I will go to Haverhill to look for Joe(5).  Nell Richards(6) the one who used to write me has bin(sic) ded(sic) some little time.  If Joe is living I will stay with him a few days and then go on to ME.  Will write you again.  Love to all.

Your dad, Billy"    

1 One of the few details that made it down further generations was that Billy became extremely airsick and thus was no fan of air travel.  

2 The store owned by the Forbes / Richards Family - Billy worked there from about 1900-1902.

The Forbes and Richards families were originally from Brooks, ME so Billy probably knew both families from there.

3 Ernest Alward was born March 1873 in New Brunswick.  In the 1900 census he is in Reading, ME with an occupation of grocery clerk.

4 Stewart Richards was the son of Fred and Nellie Richards - I have an earlier post with a photo and more information about him here.

5 Billy had lost contact with his older brother, Joseph Waning.  Joseph left Maine and by 1896 was in Haverhill, MA.  In the 1910 census Joe is living with a cousin, Frank Waning.  He married is 2nd wife Rose in 1911.  Sadly he was deceased by 1947.  Billy may have met with Frank's family and Joe's widow Rose - as Rose then corresponds with the Dexter Wanings.

6 Stewart Richard's mother - Nell Forbes Richards.

A Journey Back Home - Maine 1947 - Part Two - Who Knew?

In looking through the Jim and Margaret Waning memorabilia from 1947, I've discovered another postcard, and two short letters written to Margaret Waning, Billy's daughter-in-law.  These items give us a few more details of Billy Waning's 1947 Epic Journey as I now call it.

Card - Front

Card - Reverse

"4 pm Portland

Will be here about 2 hrs like it very much will drop another card from same plane

love dad Waning" 

A Journey Back Home - Maine September 1947

Willard Lowe (Billy) Waning left Maine sometime before 1900 to seek his fortune.  Some fifty years later he returned to Maine, to visit friends and family.  This card, and Addie's Christmas card, are the only documentation we have of the journey.  

Postcard - Front

I've always thought this to be a courageous trip.  Billy Waning was 73 years old when he flew for the first time in his life.  He returned to a state that he had not seen in decades...and he had almost no living nuclear family.  One of his two sisters, and his brother had all passed; as had his parents.  Thus, the closest relatives left were a sister, Nellie, a nieces and two nephews, and several cousins. 

We know from Addie's letter(1) that he visited the Fernalds...it would be interesting to know who else he called upon. 

Card - Reverse

A rather terse note, postmarked Sept 28, 1947, from Portland, Oregon, it reads:

"Dear Ones,

Portland 4pm

Will be here about 2 hrs, am feeling fine like it very much.

Billy W"

Though Billy's airplane trip from Eugene to Portland apparently was a cake-walk, the rest of the journey did not go as smoothly.  Forced to circle over New York for sometime, Billy became airsick, and thus, no fan of air travel. 

And sadly, after all those years away from Maine, for what ever reason or reasons, Billy did not spend as much time away as planned, but returned "home" to Oregon sooner than originally scheduled.(2)

1 Addie's Christmas Card of Dec 1947 refers to visits to the Fernald clan

2 Jom Waning's Letter of August 25th, 1957 states "Don’t know if we can find time to go see Uncle Mat. It is a long way out of our way. May not take long here. I may be like Dad in Maine. It may not take me long to get enough here."

Waning Horses

Ellery Bright and James Waning and Tommy

Shield's River, MT

8 March 1919

Button - Billy Waning's saddle horse

Hall and Waning Ranch

Shield's River, MT

undated

James Waning and Tommy

"Ready for School"

Hall and Waning Ranch

Shield's River, MT

undated - probably abt 1919

James Waning and Janet Waning in the back

Billy Waning and unknown woman in the front

unnamed Horses

Hall and Waning Ranch

Shield's River, MT

1917

James Waning and Tony

Dexter, OR - 1931

Dexter Ranch - 1946

In the summer of 1946 Robert Emmert came up from Los Angeles for an extended visit to the Dexter Ranch.  Robert, born in 1893, was the son of Harry Emert and Mary McAdam - he was Gramp's cousin, but at 19 years older, Gramps closer to Robert's daughter, Beth born in 1919.    

Anyway, in 1946 Robert, with his wife Marjorie, and friends Paul and Bertha Munsey spent several days in Dexter.  These urban southern California folk got into the spirit of things, and helped out with the chores and farm work during their stay. 

Marjorie Emmert in the Corn

Billy Waning on Wagon in front of the barn

Bob Emmert, Paul Munsey, and Billy Waning - July 1946

Newman Hall, Paul Munsey, Billy Waning on Hay, Bob Emmert.

We don't have many photos of Billy Waning's partner Newman Hall,  This is an especially good clear shot.

Bob Emmert and Paul Munsey

Note the clothes the men are wearing - pretty dressed up!

Paul Munsey and Billy Waning

Robert Emmert, Paul Munsey, and Billy Waning

They commemorated their stay with a group photo.

Paul Munsey, Billy Waning, Net Waning, Bertha Munsey, Newman Hall, and Marjory Emmert - Robert Emmert not pictured was the photographer.

Dexter Ranch - 1929

The Dexter Ranch 1929

I've always thought of the Waning place in Dexter as the "Dexter Farm", but all the photos of it are notated as the "Dexter Ranch".  I suspect this was a carryover in thinking from Montana ranching.   

I think that 1929 must have been the year the Waning family moved from Wendling to Dexter based on Gramp's school work and report cards.

Billy Waning and Turkeys

Net Waning on the Back Porch

Jim and Billy Waning and unknown boy

Willard Lowe Waning - 1902

This photo says only "Unity, Maine July 1902".

I do know that Willard L. Waning is in the back row on the left.

Originally I thought a couple of the women might be his sisters, but upon looking at the information I have, both of his sisters had died by 1902.

So who the others are remains a mystery.   

Summer Time - Time to Play Baseball

Willard L. Waning - back row - 2nd from right (standing)

Once upon a time, every community, no matter how small, had a local baseball team.  This photo was taken sometime before 1924 when the Waning family moved to Oregon.  As Billy had a mustache in a photo by 1916, this photo maybe sometime before then...or after...

 

The tradition of baseball continues with Mikaila in 2009!